Why We Thought a Blog Was Necessary

Welcome to Queen’s!

Sarah and I have been friends since first year. Below is a photo of us “studying” for one of our first-ever university exams: Principles of Economics. What a rollercoaster of a course that was.

Residence Common Room, 2022

We were camped out in the residence common room with our laptops, half-open notes, and an alarming amount of caffeine. I’d love to say we were deep in thought about supply and demand curves, but in reality, we were deep in conversation about everything except Econ.

At the time, it felt normal. University was still new: exciting, a little chaotic, and full of novelty. Every study session was half-academic, half-socialization. But as time went on, we realized that “half-focused” started to become our default.

From Motivation to Mayhem

As university got busier and busier, it became harder to give our all to academics. High school had been predictable: same classes, same teachers, same rhythm. University, on the other hand, was an open world full of choices, freedom, and, honestly, distractions.

At first, that freedom felt empowering. But somewhere between late-night club meetings, morning lectures, and trying to remember what a “work-life balance” even means, it started to feel like a juggling act. Even when we wanted to study, our focus came in short bursts. Quick sprints, but never marathons.

By second year, “being productive” had turned into an experiment: new planners, new apps, new study spots, all in the name of trying to feel locked in again.

The Rise of the Side Quests

A lot of the time when Sarah and I said we’d study together, we ended up doing what we called side quests. We’d meet at the library with every intention to study, open our laptops, and five minutes later we were doing literally anything else.

The following photo was taken at 4th floor Stauffer Library, allegedly the most “locked in” spot on campus. Yet there we were, very conspicuously not locked in.

4th Floor Stauffer Library, 2024

Here’s another video of us playing the keyboard, 10 minutes into what was supposed to be a study session.

Playing keyboard, 2023

It wasn’t laziness, it was just life at Queen’s. There’s always something happening, someone to see, something to join. Staying focused in that environment felt like trying to study during Frosh Week.

That’s when it hit us: focus isn’t just about willpower. It’s about accountability, community, and tools that make you want to keep showing up.

Why We Thought a Blog Was Necessary

We built Locked In @ Queen’s because we realized every student faces the same invisible challenge: wanting to do better, but not always knowing how.

We thought this blog was necessary for a few reasons:

1. Because staying focused shouldn’t feel isolating. University can be overwhelming and we wanted to create a space where productivity feels shared, not solitary.

2. Because Queen’s has its own rhythm. What works at other schools doesn’t always translate here. We wanted something that speaks our language: Kingston coffee shops, JDUC study nights, Cogro sprints, and all.

3. Because “balance” isn’t just a buzzword. Between the grind and the good times, there’s space to build habits that actually last.

4. Because progress looks different for everyone. Some days, “locked in” means crushing your to-do list. Other days, it means just showing up. Both count.

We didn’t want to build another aesthetic productivity page. Rather, we wanted something real, student-run, and specific to the Queen’s experience.

Looking Back, and Forward

We wish we had something like this during our first few years. A place where you could find systems that actually work, see other students’ routines, and realize you’re not the only one figuring it out in real time.

University is full of distractions, but it’s also full of potential. Locked In @ Queen’s is our way of turning that chaos into clarity, one post at a time.

Thank you for reading and we can’t wait to engage with you, hear your stories, and grow this space together!